Bottle cap for cutting seal attached to spout of bottle

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a bottle cap for cutting a seal attached to a spout of a bottle to seal an opening of a bottle. A recess recessed to have a width corresponding to a thickness of the spout is formed at a portion of an outer surface of the bottle cap, and a cutter for cutting the seal attached to the spout while the recess is engaged with an end of the spout is integrally formed with the bottle cap to protrude from a bottom surface of the recess. Accordingly, a user can clearly remove a seal by an easy way without a separate tool, and an airtight sealing of a bottle is guaranteed after the seal is removed.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a bottle cap for opening and closing a bottle, and more particularly, to a bottle cap for cutting a seal attached to a spout of a bottle to seal an opening of a bottle.

BACKGROUND ART

FIGS. 1 and 2 are views showing a general bottle and its bottle cap.

An opening is defined at an upper end of a bottle 30 by a spout 33, and the opening is closed by coupling a bottle cap 10 to the spout 33. Most of bottles for receiving drinking water and medical supplies include seals 20. The seal 20 is attached to an upper end of the spout 33 of the bottle 30 to seal the opening of the spout 33. The seal 20 serves to guarantee that the bottle 30 has not been opened before and to maintain a state in which contents received in the bottle 30 are airtight to prevent the contents from spoiling during distribution. Thus, the seals 20 are requisitely adopted in most of the bottles 30. The seals are manufactured of various materials such as paper, plastic, and vinyl.

When a user wants to extract the received contents, the user detaches the seal 20 from the spout 33 after separating the bottle cap 10 from the bottle 30. However, since the seal 20 is generally bonded to the spout 33 firmly to store the contents for a long time or to prevent liquid contents from being leaked, it is difficult for a user to remove the seal 20 clearly. Thus, since a user should use a separate tool such as a knife to clearly remove the seal 20, it is rather bothersome for the user to remove the seal 20.

Meanwhile, a grip 23 may be formed on a lateral surface of the seal 20 to easily remove the seal 20. Since a marginal space, in which the grip 23 can be interposed between an outer peripheral surface of the opening of the bottle 30 and an inner peripheral surface of the bottle cap 10, is required when the grip 23 is formed, an inner diameter of the bottle cap 10 should be somewhat large in light of this. However, if a strong tightness is also required after the seal 20 is opened since the contents received in the bottle 30 is liquid or perishable, it is not preferable that an inner diameter of the bottle cap 10 is manufactured larger than an outer diameter of the spout 33 to receive the grip 23. Further, since an entire area of a raw material of which the seal 20 is punched and manufactured is larger by a protrusion width of the grip 23 to manufacture the seal 20 including the grip 23, manufacturing costs of the seal 20 increase.

DISCLOSURE Technical Problem

It is an aspect of the present invention to provide a method by which a user can clearly and easily remove a seal without using a separate tool and an airtight sealing of a bottle can be guaranteed after the seal is removed.

Technical Solution

The object is achieved by a bottle cap for cutting a seal attached to a spout to seal an opening defined in the spout of a bottle, wherein a recess recessed to have a width corresponding to a thickness of the spout is formed at a portion of an outer surface of the bottle cap, and a cutter for cutting the seal attached to the spout while the recess is engaged with an end of the spout is integrally formed with the bottle cap to protrude from a bottom surface of the recess.

Advantageous Effects

According to the present invention, a user can clearly remove a seal by an easy way without a separate tool, and an airtight sealing of a bottle is guaranteed after the seal is removed.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 2 are views showing a general bottle and its bottle cap having a seal.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a bottle cap according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of portion A of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a front view of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a state in which the seal is cut by using the bottle cap of FIGS. 3 to 5.

FIG. 7 is a top view of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a view showing a bottle cap according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a front view of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a view showing a bottle cap according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a front view of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a view showing a bottle cap according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a front view of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a view showing a bottle cap according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a front view of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a view showing a bottle cap according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a view showing a bottle cap according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is an enlarged front view showing a portion of FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is a view showing a state in which the seal is cut by using the bottle cap of FIGS. 17 and 18.

FIG. 20 is a view showing a bottle cap according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a view showing a state in which the seal is cut by using the bottle cap of FIGS. 20.

BEST MODE

Hereinafter, a bottle cap according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompany drawings.

FIGS. 3 to 7 are views showing a bottle cap according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The bottle cap 100 according to the present invention has a structure by which a seal 20 attached to a spout 33 to seal an opening formed in the spout 33 of a bottle 30 can be cut. To this end, the bottle cap 100 according to the present invention includes a recess 120 and a cutter 130.

The recess 120 is sunken to have a width corresponding to a thickness of the spout 33, and formed at a portion of an outer surface of the bottle cap 100, and more specifically, in an edge area of a lower end of an outer peripheral surface of the bottle cap 100 in the present embodiment.

The cutter 130 protrudes from a bottom surface of the recess 120. The cutter 130 is directly integrally formed with the bottle cap 100. The cutter 130 serves to cut the seal 20 attached to the spout 33 while the recess 120 is engaged with an end of the spout 33 of the bottle 30.

The bottom surface of the recess 120 is formed to be inclined with respect to an outer surface of the bottle cap 100. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the bottom surface of the recess 120 is inclined such that it is recessed deeper with respect to an outer surface of the bottle cap 100 as it goes downward.

The cutter 130 is formed at a location adjacent to a lateral surface 140 (a left surface in FIG. 4) of the recess 120. A distance T1 between a right surface of the recess 120 and a right surface of the cutter 130 is formed to be equal to a thickness of the spout 33 of the bottle 30. A total width T2 of the recess 120 is formed to be somewhat large in consideration of the distance T1.

Lower ends 142 of opposite surfaces 140 of the recess 120 are formed to be curved so as to be easily engaged with the spoilt 33 when the recess 120 is moved to be engaged with the spout 33.

The bottle cap 100 is coupled as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 such that the recess 120 is engaged with an upper surface of the spout 33, after being rotated and separated from the spout 33. Then, since the bottom surface of the recess 120 is inclinedly formed, it is natural that the bottle cap 100 is engaged somewhat inclinedly as shown in FIG. 6 when the inclined bottom surface is engaged with the upper end of the spout 33. In this state, the cutter 130 burrows into and punches a plate surface of the seal 20, and then the cutter 130 is moved while cutting the seal 20 if the bottle cap 100 is rotated in a direction of arrows of FIGS. 6 and 7. Thus, the seal is completely cut if the bottle cap 100 is rotated by one revolution along the spout 33 of the bottle 30.

According to the present invention, the seal 20 may be easily cut by using the cutter 130 formed in the bottle cap 100 without using a separate tool. Then, since the cutter 130 is integrally formed with the bottle cap 100, manufacturing costs of the cutter 130 do not increase as compared with the bottle 100 which is produced alone. Further, a user can clearly eliminate the seal 20 through an easy operation.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show a bottle cap according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

The present embodiment is different from the first embodiment of the present invention in that a plate surface of a cutter 230 is curved to correspond to a curvature of the spout 33. Further, a surface (a right surface of FIGS. 8 and 9) opposite to a surface, in which the cutter 230 is formed, of opposite surfaces of a recess 220 is also curved to correspond to the curvature of the spout 33. Then, the right surface may not be curved, but may be a straight line.

In the above-mentioned first embodiment, in a state of FIGS. 6 and 7, the cutter 130 contacts an inner surface of the spout 33 and the right surface of recess 120 contacts an outer surface of the spout 33. However, in the present embodiment, in this state, since right surfaces of the cutter 230 and recess 220 are curved to correspond to a radius of the curvature of the spout 33, a contact degree to opposite surfaces of the spout 33 increases. Thus, the seal is more easily and effectively cut.

FIGS. 10 and 11 are views showing a bottle cap according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, a plate surface of the cutter 330 is inclinedly formed to be located rightward as it goes downward. Thus, an edge of a lower end of the cutter 330 is strongly attached to the inner surface of the spout 33 while a recess 320 is engaged with an end of the spout 33. Accordingly, while the cutter 330 is moved to cut the seal 20, a tip end in a direction of movement is attached to the inner surface of the spout 33, and thus the seal 20 is more effectively cut.

FIGS. 12 and 13 are views showing a bottle cap according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

In the present embodiment, a height of a cutter 430 (a height from a bottom surface of a recess 420) is formed to be lower than a depth of the recess 420. To this end, a front edge 432 of the cutter 430 is formed as an inclined surface to be recessed from an outer peripheral surface of the bottle cap 100 as it goes downward. Further, in the present embodiment, the cutter 430 is formed somewhat shortly such that a lower end 437 of the cutter 430 is located at a higher position than a lower end of the bottle cap 100. According to this configuration, since the cutter 430 does not protrude from an interior of the recess 420 when a user grips the bottle cap 100, a hand of the user does not directly contact the cutter 430. Thus, the hand of the user is prevented from being scratched and injured.

Further, in the present embodiment, a lower edge 434 of the cutter 430 is inclined to face upward as it goes toward an inner side of the recess 420. A degree of slope then corresponds to an angle where the lower edge of the cutter 430 forms a right angle with respect to a plate surface of the seal 20 while the bottle cap 100 is engaged with the spout 33 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Thus, a surface for cutting the seal 20 forms a right angle with respect to the plate surface of the seal 20 while the cutter 430 is moved to cut the seal 20 so that the seal 20 is more effectively cut.

FIGS. 14 and 15 are views showing a bottle cap according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, a cutter 530 extends from a left surface 540 of a recess 520 toward a lateral side. That is, the cutter 530 is not spaced apart from the left surface 540 of the recess 520, and is attached to the left surface 540. Then, a lower edge 533 of the cutter 530 is formed to be inclined downward along a direction in which the cutter 530 extends, and the cutter 530 has an entirely and downwardly protruding shape. The lower edge of the cutter 530, which faces a bottom surface of the recess 520, is inclinedly formed as in the fourth embodiment. Further, the edge 537 of an outer surface of the cutter 530 is formed as a curved surface, and is formed to be inclined along a direction of the plate surface of the spout 33 when the bottle cap 100 is moved such that the recess is engaged with the spout 33. Accordingly, the recess 520 is smoothly engaged with the spout 33.

FIG. 16 is a view showing a bottle cap according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

In the present embodiment, a pair of cutters 630 are formed at locations adjacent to opposite lateral surfaces 640 of the recess 620, respectively. Then, an interval T1 between the cutters 630 is formed to correspond to a thickness of the spout 33 of the bottle 30. According to this configuration, the right cutter 630 of the two cutters 630 cuts the seal 20 when the bottle cap 100 is engaged with the spout 33 in a state shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 as well as in a state opposite to the state shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Thus, a right hander as well as a left hander can cut the seal 20 through coupling the bottle cap 100 to the spout 33 in an arbitrary direction where a user feels easy to cut the seal 20.

FIGS. 17 to 19 are views showing a bottle cap according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, a pair of protrusions 710 are formed on an outer peripheral surface of the bottle cap 100, and the recess 720 is defined between the pair of protrusions 710 by the protrusions 710. That is, the recess 720 is not actually recessed with respect to other portions of the outer peripheral surface of the bottle cap 100, but is formed by a relatively low height with respect to the protrusions 710 protruding from opposite surfaces of the recess 720 so that the recess 720 serves as the recess 720 to which the spout 33 of the bottle 30 is coupled. The cutter 730 is formed as a blade shape protruding from a bottom surface of the recess 720.

An upper portion of the bottle cap 100 is coupled to the spout 33 of the bottle 30 as shown in FIGS. 19 and the cutter 720 passes through the seal 20 so that the bottle cap cuts the seal 20 while being rotated.

Meanwhile, the protrusions 710 may not be formed at an upper portion of the outer peripheral surface of the bottle cap 100 as shown in FIG. 17, but may be formed on an upper surface of the bottle cap 100,

Furthermore, the protrusions 710 may be formed at a corner connecting the upper surface of the bottle cap 100 and the outer peripheral surface of the bottle cap 100. In this case, an upper corner of the bottle cap 100 may be formed in a shape which is cut, and the protrusions 710 may be preferably formed at the cut portion.

FIGS. 20 and 21 are views showing a bottle cap according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, an upper edge 860 of a recess 820 is formed to be inclined with respect to a lower end surface of the bottle cap 100. Then, an inclined direction is a direction where a side in which a cutter 830 is formed is lower and an opposite side thereof is higher. Further, a plate surface of the cutter 830 is inclinedly formed to form a right angle with respect to the inclined upper edge 860.

In this embodiment, the bottle cap 100 is disposed in an inclined state such that the upper edge 860 of the recess 820 is positioned parallel to an upper surface of the spout 33 when the bottle cap 100 is engaged with the spout 33 of the bottle 30 as shown in FIG. 21. Then, the cutter 830 passes through the seal 20 in a right angle direction with respect to the plate surface of the seal 20. In this method, the seal 20 is cut by the cutter 820 as the bottle cap 100 is moved while being inclined.

According to the present embodiment, the plate surface of the seal 20 does not contact a left surface 840 of the recess 820 in a state of FIG. 21. Thus, only the cutter 830 passes through the plate surface of the seal 20 so that the seal 20 is more smoothly cut.

The above-described embodiments may not be configured alone, but may be combined. For example, the pair of cutters 230 are formed as shown in FIG. 16 at the same time when the plate surface of the cutter 230 is formed in a curved shape as shown in FIG. 8, or the upper end edge 860 of the recess 820 is inclinedly formed as shown in FIG. 20 for them, respectively.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiment shown in the drawings, it is merely exemplary. It is understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications and other equivalent embodiments can be made from this. Thus, the scope of the present invention should be determined by the subject matters of the attached claims. 

1. A bottle cap for cutting a seal attached to a spout to seal an opening defined in the spout of a bottle, wherein a recess recessed to have a width corresponding to a thickness of the spout is formed at a portion of an outer surface of the bottle cap, and a cutter for cutting the seal attached to the spout while the recess is engaged with an end of the spout is integrally formed with the bottle cap to protrude from a bottom surface of the recess.
 2. The bottle cap of claim 1, wherein the recess is formed at a lower end edge of the bottle cap.
 3. The bottle cap of claim 1, wherein the bottom surface of the recess is formed to be inclined with respect to a lateral surface of the bottle cap.
 4. The bottle cap of claim 2, wherein the cutter is formed at a location adjacent to a lateral surface of the recess.
 5. The bottle cap of claim 2, wherein a pair of cutters are formed at locations adjacent to opposite lateral surfaces of the recess, respectively.
 6. The bottle cap of claim 2, wherein a plate surface of the cutter is curved to correspond to a curvature of the spout.
 7. The bottle cap of claim 2, wherein a plate surface of the cutter is inclinedly formed such that a tip end of a direction of movement of the cutter is attached to an inner surface of the spout while the recess is engaged with an end of the spout.
 8. The bottle cap of claim 2, wherein the cutter is formed such that a height of the cutter from the bottom surface is lower than a depth of the recess.
 9. The bottle cap of claim 2, wherein a surface for cutting the seal is inclinedly formed to define a right angle with respect to a plate surface of the seal while the cutter moves along the inner surface of the spout in a state in which the recess is engaged with an end of the spout.
 10. The bottle cap of claim 6, wherein the cutter extends from a lateral surface of the recess toward a lateral side.
 11. The bottle cap of claim 10, wherein a tip end of the cutter is curved to be inclined with respect to a direction of the plate surface of the spout when being moved such that the recess is engaged with the spout.
 12. The bottle cap of claim 1, wherein a pair of protrusions are formed on the outer surface of the bottle cap, and the recess is defined between the pair of protrusions by the protrusions.
 13. The bottle cap of claim 12, wherein the pair of protrusions are formed on an outer surface of the bottle cap.
 14. The bottle cap of claim 1, wherein an upper edge of the recess is formed to be inclined with respect to a lower end surface of the bottle cap.
 15. The bottle cap of claim 7, wherein the cutter extends from a lateral surface of the recess toward a lateral side.
 16. The bottle cap of claim 8, wherein the cutter extends from a lateral surface of the recess toward a lateral side.
 17. The bottle, cap of claim 9, wherein the cutter extends from a lateral surface of the recess toward a lateral side. 